Funding Options

11 FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

Funding Options

A major challenge in the future management of the Reserve, will be to generate income to address increasing costs associated with critical maintenance and new developments, and ongoing activities.

Income may be sourced from the following:

 Council’s General Revenue Fund (in accordance with annual operational budgets): Where the Reserve is being used for informal casual use, Council will contribute to the maintenance and development of Infrastructure.

 Section 94 Contributions specifically collected for community land: This component occurs as rate payer’s contributions for the general use of community land for community well-being.

User pays for minor infrastructure works associated with some sporting facilities: This occurs through fund raising by the relevant body including memberships, minor sales and raffles etc., and aims at achieving tailoring surrounds and layout which suit and are compatible with the event or activity.

Community contributions by way of community group projects (eg., Landcare, Rotary, Lions

Club): This occurs through grants either sourced externally, and/or contributed locally by the group (eg., for the purposes of environmental works, social and intellectual well-being etc).

Grant and loan funding from either Commonwealth or State Governments: The implementation of the management structure will allow Primary users to apply for funds from a number of Government bodies with the concurrence of Council. Council may also apply for these funds. A limited number of funding opportunities exist from government programs.

Division 12.5 of the CLMA provides for the Crown Reserve Improvement Fund18 12.29 provides that: (CRIF). Section

(1) The following may be paid from the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund:

(a) the cost of the purchase or acquisition of land required for Crown reserves, (b) the cost of the maintenance, improvement or development of Crown reserves (whether by direct expenditure or by grants, loans or advances to the managers of the Crown reserves), but only if the payment is made with the approval of the Minister…

Competitive Applications to receive funding from the CRIF are called for on an annual basis early each year by the DPE-CL. Further information about this process can be found at DPE-CL’s website at www.industry.nsw.gov.au/lands.

Income from commercial operations: Where tenures are involved, income will arise as per details in the revenue-split in the corresponding agreement. Less formally, income may result from casual occupation, such as Reserve use fees, including those associated with camping and

18 The Crown Reserve Improvement Fund is the successor to the former Public Reserve Management Fund created under the former Public Reserves Management Fund Act 1987.